World Religions: Comparison and Dialogue — CSEC Religious Education
This topic compares the major world religions and considers how they can live together through dialogue.
Comparing the major religions
| Religion | God | Sacred text | Place of worship |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christianity | One God (Trinity) | Bible | Church |
| Islam | Allah | Qur'an | Mosque |
| Judaism | One God | Torah | Synagogue |
| Hinduism | Brahman (many deities) | Vedas | Mandir (temple) |
Monotheistic religions (Christianity, Islam, Judaism) believe in one God; Hinduism recognises many deities as forms of one supreme reality.
Shared features and values
Despite their differences, many religions share:
- belief in a divine power and a purpose to life,
- sacred writings and forms of worship,
- rites of passage and festivals, and
- moral values such as honesty, compassion, justice and the Golden Rule.
Inter-religious dialogue
Dialogue is respectful conversation and cooperation between people of different faiths. Its benefits include:
- greater tolerance and understanding,
- reduced conflict and prejudice, and
- cooperation on shared concerns (e.g. helping the poor, promoting peace).
In a diverse region like the Caribbean, dialogue helps different faiths live together peacefully.
Exam tips
- Be able to compare religions by God, sacred text and place of worship.
- Identify shared values (e.g. the Golden Rule, compassion) across faiths.
- Define inter-religious dialogue and explain its benefits.
- Distinguish monotheistic religions from those with many deities.